Hi All, Louise here, head shave victim, ahem Volunteer, for The Royal Pier Hotel, Valentia Island New Year’s Eve Gala Night, in aid Of The Irish Cancer Society. 

When telling friends and family of my plans to do this on New Year’s the only question people seem to be asking is, “Are You Mad?”. 

While I will be pleading The Fifth on this one, I Would like to say why
I have chosen to do this.

99% of people reading this will, unfortunately, have been affected in some way by this dreadful illness, either themselves directly or through family members and friends.  Cancer, as we are told daily,
is on the increase and the statistics just now make for very worrying reading.

Having already lost so many friends over the years due to cancer, this year it hit right at the heart of our family.  We lost our wonderful sister Marie, at the age of 64.  She was a Mother, Grandmother, best friend
and truly one of the nicest people you could ever meet.  It should not have happened, not to her and not to people like her.  Within two weeks of her death, we lost another truly lovely soul, Davy (Chester) O’Connor, Ár gCairde from Valentia.  

The Irish Cancer Society are doing amazing work in supporting people through their most challenging of times, whether the outcome be good or bad.  Their continuing efforts to raise funds for research is invaluable and to me personally this Must be supported.  

So, guys, the answer is No, I am not Mad, very happy to say I am well and my hair will grow back.  It is a very tiny sacrifice, a few weeks of mirror avoidance but, if we can raise some much-needed funds
going forward to get us that bit closer to curing this illness, it will be
worth losing every strand.

Thank you for your support.

Beannacht Dé leat, fan slán agus athbhliain faoi shéan is faoi mhaise duit

God Bless, stay well and have a very happy new year

Lou

09/01/2023

Hi Everyone, Ok so the deed is done, I would just like to thank everyone involved in making the night such a success, firstly The Royal and all their staff for hosting the event.  Big thanks to Rowena for doing the shave in poor lighting and in front of a crowd (there was no pressure there then).

A big shout out to Christy Curran, Christy has his own story to tell and on the night decided not to leave me on my own and so got his head shaved as well, thank you very much for your support Christy. 

To all the people who shared their own cancer stories with me over the weekend, I wish you all good health and good fortune in the coming year.  And to those who told me repeatedly how brave I was, let me just say this, I Had A Choice, its You the survivors and those who continue to fight who are the brave ones. 

Go raibh míle maith agaibh go léir as bhur dtacaíocht.
(Thank you all so much for your support. )

Lou